LeBron and The Evolution of a Hater
If you listen to the Whiskey Congress Podcast, you know that we are based in Cleveland, Ohio. While I was not born in Cleveland, I gravitated to the Cavaliers when LeBron was beginning his NBA career and I became and have remained a Cavaliers fan. When LeBron made his poorly conceived announcement in 2010 where he announced that he was “taking his talents to South Beach”, I did not handle it well. I instantly became a LeBron-Basher and I cheered for the opponents of the Miami Heat as if they were my boyhood teams for four years straight. I was a Hater and I owned it. Recently, my Facebook historical feed provided me with flashbacks of my level of disdain in those days. I said at the time, that I wasn’t upset with LeBron exclusively because he left but far more for how he left. I said it. I meant it. I stand by it today. As badly as he handled his original departure from Cleveland, he made up for it with how he handled his return. His letter to Cleveland fans that accompanied his return was a work of perfection. Now the once and former king is taking his game to the West Coast. I’m not happy about it. In fact, I am upset. But there is no hate this time. I wish LeBron continued success and I will cheer for the Lakers against anyone other than the Cavaliers. LeBron brought 4 years of excitement and attention to Cleveland. The four consecutive finals appearances that we got to enjoy brought life and energy to the city that we would not have experienced without the return of LeBron. In 2016, when the Cavaliers completed a comeback after falling down three games to one against the Golden State Warriors, I was at a game party with friends. The level of emotion that filled the room as the Cavaliers hoisted the trophy provided me with one of the most exciting and satisfying sports experiences of my life. The parade that followed perfectly illustrated the passion that Cleveland has for their sports teams. Once again, I am upset that LeBron is leaving us for the most storied franchise in NBA history but I am still a fan of the man and I am forever grateful for the excitement, entertainment and experiences that I would never have had if the greatest player of this generation (and arguably ever) hadn’t returned to Cleveland. Thanks LeBron…and sorry for that four year hater thing.
